A Seattle Bungalow's Six-Bedroom Upgrade Exudes Schoolhouse Charm

With two young children in tow, Sarah Dupuis and her husband purchased a 1,000-square-foot 1906 bungalow in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood with the intention of expanding the property as their family grew. But by the time they began construction to add a second story in 2014, their third child was on the way — and they found structural issues with the foundation. With no choice but to start from scratch, the couple decided to create a spacious house that still embraced the bungalow feel of their historic neighborhood. In the end, the pair followed through on their original goal and their best intentions. They built a six-bedroom home with three stories for their kids, and they outfitted it with repurposed items found throughout the community.

In many ways, the home is an homage to the properties that line the idyllic neighborhood. "I tried to take the old bungalows into consideration by using parts of the original house," Dupuis said. The owners used Ben Moore paints throughout their house, including "White Dove" in the breakfast nook. Custom-built bench seating surrounds an IKEA table.

Before the couple started the renovation, they learned that the original bungalow had a storied past — including being part of a locally-famous commune in the 1960s. "It was a well-known party house in the 1980s. There was a hot tub in the living room, which explains some of the staining we found on the wood," Dupuis said.

"My goal was to build a home that our kids would have great memories of growing up in," Dupuis said. "It is really geared toward our kids." An IKEA light fixture hangs above a West Elm rug in an upstairs bedroom.

The Queen Anne neighborhood is a tight-knit community, so the couple's family ties fit right in. "We are assured to run into at least three people we know anytime we go on a walk," Dupuis said. And if neighbors would like to come over, there's room — the home can comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests.